Akura™ Organ-on-Chip Technology
A technology platform augmenting 3D cell culture to immune-competent microfluidic multi-organ experiments at scales
Introduction to Akura™ Organ-on-Chip Technology
Akura™ Organ-on-Chip Platforms are next-generation in vitro assay plates creating advanced microphysiological systems (MPS) through cell microfluidic culturing conditions, organ-organ interaction, and the addition of immune cells under continuous flow.
Akura™ Organ-on-Chip technology is built on pre-formed spheroid and organoid tissue models and is compatible with InSphero’s complete portfolio of 3D InSight™ Human Microtissues. The approach provides experimental continuity between single- and multi-organ testing applications, enabling a seamless integration and step-by-step increase of biological complexity.
The standardized design and simple operation of InSphero's Multi-organ platforms enable a highly modular and flexible arrangement for scientists to develop a wide range of biological studies and pre-clinical applications involving more than one organ. At the same time, unique design features and automation-compatible workflows preserve scalability, ease of use, and compatibility with a wide range of read-outs.
Why Akura™ Organ-on-Chip Technology?
Designing multi-organ MPS experiments on fully characterized spheroids/organoids provides quick adoption and control over operational complexity through a step-by-step increase of biological complexity.
Designed for Spheroids & Organoids
Miniature-sized with fully characterized organotypic functions, they are the ideal building blocks for multi-organ MPS.
Robust & Simple to Use
Unique well designs, simple microfluidic structures and gravity-based flow ensures quick set up and robust long-term operation.
Scalable via Standards & Automation
Miniaturized and based on SLAS/ANSI plate formats, all platforms are compatible with standard laboratory instrumentation.
Compatible with a Broad Range of Read-Outs
Anytime accessibility to the circulating medium, easy removal of the spheroids/organoids and optical transparency preserve all read out options.
Organ-on-Chip Technology for Scalable, Reliable and Reproducible 3D Cell Culture
Flexible and timely assembly of pre-formed spheroids
Multi-organ experiments are initiated using pre-formed, quality-controlled spheroids that are transferred from the Akura™ Microplates into a microfluidic channel network with custom-designed compartments. Separating off-chip microtissue production from multi-organ experiments provides several benefits: standardized protocols for organ model production, synchronization of different organ model production protocols and maturation times, and the ability to assess individual organ function before assembly, ensuring overall system functionality. Additionally, Akura™ Organ-on-Chip technology ensures consistent model characteristics across various platforms, allows for the universal use of developed readout protocols and endpoints, and facilitates direct comparison of obtained data between platforms.
Reproducibility and reliability guaranteed through simple design and operation
Complex biology does not necessitate complex protocols and operations. All Akura™ Organ-on-Chip Technology Platforms are designed to impress scientists with their ease of use and robustness. These platforms feature simple microfluidic channel designs that interconnect between 2 and 12 microtissue culturing compartments. Robust operation is achieved through air-bubble-free medium loading and tubeless gravity-based bi-directional perfusion via tilting. The patented single spheroid compartment design allows direct access to spheroids, facilitating top loading and intact tissue retrieval. These devices are fabricated using injection molding of polystyrene or COP, ensuring chip reproducibility and minimizing compound absorption in both short- and long-term experiments.
True scalability guaranteed by automation compatibility and SLAS/ANSI standard
The complete range of Akura™ Organ-on-Chip plates adheres to SLAS/ANSI plate standards. Microslide-sized chips can be placed in chip holders to meet these standards, ensuring the correct positioning of the spheroid compartments. Alternatively, the microfluidic system can be integrated into the bottom of a 384-well plate. This miniaturization enables the integration of numerous channels per plate, allowing for the parallel comparison of multiple conditions and accommodating a large number of statistical replicates. The top accessibility of medium reservoirs and spheroid compartments facilitates the use of industrial liquid handlers for medium and spheroid transfer.
Extract maximal information over a broad range of available read out methods
The well design, plate format and spheroid model ensures compatibility with a large variety of analysis methods: the direct access to the medium and non-attached 3D cell culture provides seamless use of diverse biochemical assays. The complete spheroid can be lysed to analyze cellular content using plate readers or advance deep endpoints such as RNA Sequencing. The flat-bottom enables unparalleled aberration-free, high-resolution imaging. Most importantly, all read-out protocols developed and optimized on single spheroid experiments can be seamlessly transferred and applied in the Akura™ Organ-on-Chip technology platforms.
Choose the Right Organ-on-Chip Platforms for Your Research
Explore the portfolio of Organ-on-Chip platforms and unlock the full potential of 3D in vitro with Akura™ Organ-On-Chip Technology
Akura™ Flow 384 Organ-on-Chip Platform
Akura™ Flow Organ-on-Chip Platform
Akura™ Immune Flow Organ-on-Chip Platform
